Are you new to Motherhood?
Are you introducing your infant to an older sibling?
Are you having Twins or Triplets?
The postpartum period is a time of adjustment unlike any other in your life. With so much time spent on preparing for labour and birth, parents often find they are relatively unprepared for the postpartum recovery of childbirth, and the new adjustments in lifestyle and routine that needs to be made.
Some common questions you may have or that may come up after the birth of your child include:
- How will I cope when I am home alone with the baby after my partner returns to work?
- Will I be a good Mother?
- Will I feel a mothering instinct?
- How will I adjust to my new identity? How will my friends adjust to me?
- What if I have breastfeeding concerns, who can I go to for help?
- How will I handle my older child(ren) with a new infant in the house?
- Will I get Postpartum Depression? How will I handle my hormones and mood changes?
- How will I know what to do for my newborn?
- How will I juggle my multiples?
- How will I find the resources I need to get connected to the community?
A Postpartum Doula is a non-judgmental woman with a quiet presence in the home. By giving emotional and breastfeeding support, along with practical newborn care tips and taking care of necessary household tasks, postpartum Doulas help to ease the transition into parenthood.
As your Postpartum Doula I focus on building an environment where you, your partner, and new baby can grow and bond as a new family with confidence and ease. My support is invaluable after a cesarean birth, with premature babies, for mothers with other children at home, and for mothers of multiples. I personally specialize in the care of multiples and have experience with both twins and triplets.
My approach is not to assume primary responsibility for the newborn, but rather to assist the mother and her partner in their new roles as parents so they can more easily bond with, and take care of the baby.
The first weeks home with a newborn are very exciting times as you learn more about yourselves and your baby. These may also be challenging times, when adjustments will have to be made in your life. In the past, families had extensive support systems of women who helped to care for the new mother and her baby. Today, this is not always the case, so a Postpartum Doula steps in to nurture the mother, father, and baby.
Support for Mother may include:
- Breastfeeding support and instruction
- Assist with bathing, changing, swaddling, and holding the baby
- Look after baby while mom gets rest or attends to other children
- Organizing the home to be the most baby-functional
- Listening and helping to process your birth story
- Helping the family adjust to their new roles
- Light household tasks
- Cook meals as well as nutritional guidance
- Shop for groceries or do errands
- Connect you to community resources
Support for the Father may include:
- Provide practical advice for what he/she can do
- Teach infant massage techniques
- Explore baby calming techniques unique to his/her own skills
- Take care of the baby so parents can have time together
- Helping partner transition back to work while remaining connected to mom and babe
Benefits of Postpartum Doulas:
Research by experts tells us what many have long suspected: that those new parents who have support and feel secure and cared for during this time are more successful in adapting than those who don’t. Studies have shown that cultures in which women are cared for by others for a defined period of days or weeks and are expected only to nurture themselves and their babies during that time have superior outcomes in postpartum adjustment. We know that women who experience support from their family members, care providers, counselors, and peer groups have:
- Greater breastfeeding success
- Greater self-confidence
- Less postpartum depression
- Lower incidence of abuse than those who do not
- Evidence also indicates that timely referrals to competent, appropriate professionals and support groups can have a significantly positive outcome for the family
- Parents benefit from education on what to expect from a newborn
- Increased baby-soothing skills
- Greater success with feeding and bonding
- Better coping skills
- Rather than being told to "help out", partners and other family members benefit from concrete instruction and role modeling on how to support a woman during the weeks after birth.
- Research tells us that support for, and from the partner can have a significant impact on their partner's own experience as well as the emotional adjustment of the mother
Reference: DONA International Postpartum Position Paper
- Read more Frequently Asked Questions about Postpartum Doulas.
- Learn more about Birthing From Within ® Prenatal Classes.
- Learn more about Birth Doula Services.
